Kim Seul-ah "The belief that life can change... 'Life's Dawn Delivery' has begun"

Digital Innovator Relay Contribution ② Kim Seul-ah, CEO of Kurly Inc.

When Market Kurly was first introduced to the world six years ago, few people thought it would become a service used by so many as it is today. More than 100 investors met for funding rounds evaluated Kurly's business model as unlikely to succeed, citing that even large distribution companies with ample capital had failed in this area. In the early stages of the business, both customer sign-ups and order volumes did not grow as quickly as expected. Looking back to 2015, Market Kurly was a service that had never existed before, making it difficult to assess its value.

Many startups begin with a harsh reality check like this, feeling the coldness of the world firsthand. Although they start with innovative ideas that can change our lives, no one can be certain whether many people will want the service or if it can be sustained over time. Therefore, startup founders must constantly validate their ideas and prove them to the world, spending most of their time working. They struggle under the heavy responsibility of fairly compensating those who join them in the process while also feeling the pressure to deliver quick results, which often leads to mistakes. Starting a startup to do what they want but repeatedly having to do things they do not want is the daily reality of startups.

To those preparing to start a startup, I want to emphasize that despite numerous difficulties and hardships, startups cannot stop. That idea changes someone's life. Market Kurly began as a service I personally needed, and the process was not grandiose. Like a farmer tending the land day by day, solving today's problems every day, we have achieved over 300 times growth in sales compared to the first year in just six years. This was possible because of the colleagues who worked together, the investors who supported us, and the customers who used Kurly.

In the process, unintentionally, Kurly became a pioneer in establishing dawn delivery in the market. As large corporations joined the dawn delivery market, which was started by a small, unnoticed startup, the market has grown and is growing together. If we, as a startup, had quit when everyone said it was difficult, the world where fresh food is delivered to the doorstep before going to work would not have been experienced. Opportunities to change our lives and industries start right from startups. Those preparing to start a startup should understand the responsibility and mission to create better services and contribute to society.

According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, 123,000 companies were newly established in 2020, and as the number of people working in startups increased, about 53,000 new jobs were created in 37,000 venture companies in 2020. Investment in startups has also increased, with approximately 734.9 billion KRW invested in 94 deals in April 2021 alone.

As the potential of startups gains market recognition, the Korean startup ecosystem is gradually improving. The level of founders who take on new challenges and team members who realize those ideas is steadily rising. Three domestic companies won awards at the 2021 Edison Awards in the U.S., known as the "Oscar of Innovation," where figures like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk have been honored. At CES, the world's largest electronics exhibition, 22 Korean startups received innovation awards, demonstrating global recognition of the potential of Korean startups.

Governments and local authorities are also developing comprehensive startup support systems, providing opportunities for startups facing early difficulties to grow. The survival rate of startups receiving government support is one to two times higher than that of all startups. Not only the government but many companies are actively offering support measures and cooperation plans to nurture and support startup ideas, enabling more startups to take on new challenges.

The growth of the Korean startup ecosystem is attracting global attention, with Seoul ranking 20th among 270 cities worldwide in the 2020 "Startup Genome" survey analyzing major global startup ecosystems. With globally recognized good ideas, great colleagues, and active public-private support combined, an environment is being created where startups can keep running without stopping. In this broader environment, I hope startup founders who believe in themselves and take on new challenges to change the world will gain the strength to keep moving forward steadily.